Thermostatic regulator.



J. NATHAN.

THERMOSTATIC REGULATOR.

APPLICATION FILED FEB 8, I915.

1,224,:3 1 3. Patented May 1, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Fig.1.

/6 II 2 i i J. NATHAN.

THERMOSTATIQREGULATOR. APPLICATION FILED FEB-8,19%.

1,224,31 3. Patented May 1, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

72104 .7 ZZZ/6712070 d'OHITNATHAN, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

' THERMOSTATIC REGULATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 1, 191 '7.

Application filed February 8, 1915. Serial No. 6,924.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN NATHAN, a subject of Great Britain, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Thermostatic Regulators, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a closed or open circuit thermostat" and has for its object to provide a device in which the circuit is broken and closed, respectively, by the expansion and contraction of a fluid, and in which the fluid is heated by -a resistance means in the circuit, whether in series or multiple therewith.

These and other objects are accomplished by the structure hereinafter specifically described in the accompanying drawing and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a view illustrating my invention as applied.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional elevation.

Fig. 3 is a section on line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation of a slightly modified form.

Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation illustrating the application of my invention to boilers, and Fig. 6 is a sectional elevation showing the employing of my invention in connection with unit heating systems.

Referring in detail to the drawing, in which like reference numerals denote like parts, A designates a body, preferably of cylindrical form, and composed preferably of two parts, 1 and 2, the part 1 forming a chamber or container for a suitable fluid held therein by and acting upon a yielding means, as a diaphragm 3, as in Fig. 2, which diaphragm, together with a heat insulating disk 4, is held between the abutting flanges 5 and 6 respectively, of the parts 1 and 2.

The liquid in the chamber or container ,1 is heated by a resistance coil 7, having one of its terminals secured to a binding post 8, and its other end connected to a contact 9, on which is pivotally mounted a switch blade 10, adapted to engage a contact 11, to which is attached a wire 12, as in Fig. 1, for completing the circuit. Said yielding diaphragm 3, is provided centrally thereof with a stem 13, having it free and connected to said blade 10 by a pin 14:, operating in an elongated slot 15. Surrounding said stem 13 is a coiled expansion spring 16, bearing .at one end against said diaphragm and at the other against the wall 17 of said part 2, and serving to return said diaphragm to normal position upon contraction of the liquid and to bring the switch blade 10 in engagement with the contact 11. When the liquid, which is preferably of an-easily volatilizable character, is heated to a sufficient degree, the ensuing expansion forces out the diaphragm and the stem against the tension of the spring 13, and operates the blade 10, which, disengaging from the contact 11, breaks the circuit. On contraction of the fluid, the diaphragm resumes its normal position under the tension of the spring, as explained.

Heretofore I have referred to a cylinder having a yielding means or diaphragm, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and 3. This yielding means may, however comprise a piston 18, slidable within the part 1, which occupies a position reverse to that of the part 1 in Fig. 2, for the urpose of preventing leakage of the fluid.

In Fig. 5 I have shown a method of applying my invention to a boiler. The part 2 of the cylinder may have a threaded flange 19, for engagement with one end of a boiler 20. Onto this part 2 is attached in any manner the part 1, containing the liquid, which acts upon the diaphragm 3, by expansion produced by heating the liquid through the medium of a heating coil 7, which is preferably inclosed in a mica covering 21, through which the heat may pass to heat the water in the boiler, without coming in direct contact with the coil. One terminal of the coil is attached to the contact 9, on which is pivotally mounted the switch blade 10, arranged for contact with a contact 11, to which the other terminal of the coil is secured. The blade is operated through the medium of the stem 13, connected with the blade, and with the diaphragm, in the manner described in connection with Fig. 2. The return of the diaphragm 3 to normal position is effected by the coiled spring 16.

In Fig. 6 I have shown a method of using the device in connection with unit heating plants, whereby, when a certain degree of heat is reached in a room, the steam or hot water, as the case may be, is automatically shut off from the particular unit furnishin g the heat.

To the blade 10 is pivotally attached one end of an arm 22, the other end being at-- tached to a lever 23, fulcrumed at 24. To

the end of the lever 23 is connected a lever 25, which operates a valve 26 in a pipe line 27, to control the flow of steam or water to a radiator 28. One of the terminals of the heating coil 7, is connected to the binding post 8, which also serves to bind a wire 29, connected to a switch 30, and the other terminal is connected to the contact 11, on the part 2 of the cylinder. Attached to the contact 9 is a wire 31, leading to the mercury or other fluid in a thermometer 32. In line with and leading from the graduations on said thermometer 32, is a plurality of wires 33, connected with fixed contact plates 34 on a suitable base or support 35, of insulating material. Said base is provided with a slot 36, in which is a contact member 37, having an indicating hand 38, arranged to slide, such contact member 37 having attached thereto one end of a wire 39, the other end being connected to said switch 30.

When a certain temperature is desired in a room, the indicating hand 38, is moved to the corresponding graduation on the thermometer 32, such movement bringing the contact member 37 in contact with one of the plates 34. When the mercury or other fluid in the thermometer 32 reaches the graduation at which the hand 38 is set, the circuit will be closed, and the coil 7 heated. The consequent expansion of the fluid in the part 1 of the cylinder, causes, in the manner heretofore described, the blade 10, to disengage from the contact 11, and thus break the circuit. In this manner an even temperature may always be maintained.

In Fig. 2 I have illustrated a method of regulating the tension of the coil spring 16, for the purpose of increasing or decreasing the sensitiveness of the yielding member 3 to the action of the expansive fluid, and thus regulating the heat according to need.

To this end, the plate 17 is provided with an externally threaded tubular extension 40, through which the stem 13 passes, and on which is a nut 41, against which one end of the spring 16 bears. By manipulation of said nut the tension of said spring is regulated.

What is claimed is:

1. A device for regulating the heat produced by an electric current, comprising a two part cylinder, a heat insulating material interposed between the conducting surfaces of said parts, a diaphragm between said arts, a liquid in one part of said cylin er acting upon one face of said diaphragm, spaced contacts secured to said cylinder, a switch blade cooperating therewith, a stem connecting said diaphragm to said blade, a coil spring encircling said stem to return said diaphragm to normal position, and means included in the circuit for heating said liquid.

2. Means for regulating the heat produced by an electric current consisting of a chamber containing a li uid, a coil in the heat producing circuit or heating the liquid, a circuit control, means acted on by the liquid to maintain a steady temperature of the liquid and the heat produced by the current, and means to regulate the temperature at which the liquid is to be maintained to thereby control the heat produced by the current.

3. A device for regulating the heat produced by an electric current consisting of a chamber for a liquid, a yielding means on said chamber, a heating coil in the circuit to heat the liquid in the chamber, con tacts on said chamber, a circuit control cooperating therewith, means actuable by said yielding means under the movement of the liquid automatically to operate said circuit control and thereby regulate the heat of the liquid and the heat produced by the electric current, and means to regulate the resistance of said yielding means to the movement of the liquid.

4. A device for regulating the heat produced by an electric current, comprising a receptacle for an expansible fluid, a means arranged to yield under the expansion and contraction of the liquid in said chamber, a resistance coil in the circuit to heat the liquid in said chamber, a circuit controllin means operable by the movement of said yielding means to maintain a definite temperature of the liquid and heat produced by the electric current, and adjustable means to predetermine the heat.

5. A device for regulating the heat produced by an electric current, comprising a chamber for an expansiblc liquid, a resist ance coil in the circuit to heat the liquid in said chamber, a circuit control, a means on said chamber acted on by the expansion of the liquid to operate said circuit control and break the circuit and to make the circuit when the liquid contracts thereby to govern the heat produced by the electric current, and means manually operable to regulate the resistance of the means on said chamber to the expansive force of the liquid to control the temperature of the heat produced by the electric current.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN NATHAN.

Witnesses:

A. B. SIMoNs, ANTON GLOETZNER, Jr. 

